You have your social platform for a reason. They work. So, use them. Now.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

We started with a simple question: Who are the most influential people online right now?

That's what The Influence Project is designed to answer. By participating, you will have your picture appear in the November issue of Fast Company magazine as part of an amazing photo spread. The more influence you demonstrate, the bigger your picture will be.

You may discover that you're more influential than you think.

Influence is not only about having the most friends or followers. Real influence is about being able to affect the behavior of those you interact with, to get others in your social network to act on a suggestion or recommendation. When you post a link or recommend a site, how many people actually bother to check it out? And what's the likelihood of those people then forwarding it on? How far does your influence spread?

This is the type of influence we're looking for. We want to find the most influential person online. Who knows? It might even be you.

The Influence Project is designed to visualize your online influence in action.
Everyone who participates will have his or her photo appear in the November issue of
Fast Company magazine as part of an amazing photo spread.

1. Sign up and get your own personalized, unique URL link to the site.

2. Your goal is to use any and all of your online social networks to spread your unique link and influence people to click on it.

3. Each person who clicks on your link for the first time helps increase your influence and the size of your picture.

4. You'll also receive partial credit for clicks generated by new members who register through your link. The credit will progressively diminish (1/2, 1/4, 1/8, etc.) the further out these clicks spread, but you can earn fractional points up to six degrees away from your original link.

5. The "most influential person" will be the participant who demonstrates the greatest overall
influence by the deadline.

6. The competitive portion of the project begins July 6, 2010 and ends August 15, 2010 at
midnight EST.

HOW WE MEASURE INFLUENCE

The scale of your influence, and therefore the size of your photo, is based on two measures.

1. The number of people who directly click on your unique URL link. This is the primary measure of your influence, pure and simple.

2. You will receive partial "credit" for subsequent clicks generated by those who sign-up as a result of your URL. In other words, anyone who comes to the site through your link and sign-ups for their own account will be spreading your influence while they spread theirs. That way, you get some benefit from influencing people who are influential themselves. We will give a diminishing,
fractional credit (1/2, 1/4, 1/8 etc ) for clicks generated up to six degrees away from your original link.

Submission of your Registration as an Influencer in the Influence Project constitutes your full and unconditional agreement to accept and be bound by the following Terms and Conditions ("Terms"):

1. CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION:

A. By submitting your Registration as an Influencer in the Influence Project, you represent and warrant that: (i) you are the person identified as the Influencer, (ii) the email address you have provided belongs to you and not to any other person, and (iii) the photo you have uploaded may be reproduced in connection with the Influence Project without violation or infringement of the rights of any party.

B. You acknowledge that your registered name, photo and bio may be made available to the general public on the Influence Project website and may be reproduced in the November 2010 issue of Fast Company Magazine in any and all media, on FastCompany.com and in connection with the promotion of Fast Company.

C. You acknowledge that the information contained in your registration may be used by Mansueto Ventures LLC ("MV"), the publisher of Fast Company, to share with you offers and/or announcement of products, services or events produced or sponsored by MV.

2. DISCLAIMER: MV shall not be responsible for malfunctions of electronic equipment, computer hardware, software, or malfunctions of your email provider. MV shall not be responsible for problems or electronic transmission errors resulting in omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operations or transmission, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to or alterations of Registration materials, or for technical, network, telephone, equipment, electronic, computer, hardware or software malfunctions or limitations of any kind or inaccurate transmissions on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or any web site or any combination thereof. If for any reason the Influence Project is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of the Influence Project, MV reserves the right in its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Influence Project.

3. RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES: You agree that: (1) in the event of any dispute or claim arising out of or connected with your participation in the Influence Project, the parties select the State and Federal Courts located in the State of New York, County of New York as the exclusive forum in which the matter may be litigated; (2) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, but in no event attorneys' fees; and (3) under no circumstances will you be permitted to obtain any compensation for, and you hereby waive all rights to claim, punitive, incidental and consequential or any other damages other than those for actual out-of-pocket expenses. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Terms shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and performed in New York.